Surviving the menopause without HRT

MANY WOMEN WHO BEGIN THE MENOPAUSE don’t want to use HRT.
Health concerns surrounding its use have made many women nervous, and as it is produced using animal products (mare’s urine) it may be considered unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians. However, the classic menopausal symptoms: excessive sweating, hot flushes, palpitations, headaches, joint pains and concerns about bone strength can be very distressing.

 

What is the menopause?

The menopause is not a disease. It cannot be caught by mixing with other middle-aged women, nor can you be infected with ‘menopausitis’ by sitting on toilet seats.

The menopause, just like reaching puberty, is a natural life stage. Sadly, in our culture, the menopause is viewed by many as something to grieve – a loss of periods, a loss of fertility, a loss of hormones, coming around the time of children leaving home and the so-called ‘empty-nest syndrome’.

Many women, in fact, welcome the arrival of the menopause, the loss of monthly periods which for some women may have been painful and emotionally traumatic, can come as a relief. Sex can actually improve as concerns over contraception are removed. So the menopause is not all doom and gloom.

The medical profession for years has viewed the menopause as a medical condition defined simply as a drop in hormonal levels, easily ‘cured’ with a hearty dose of animal-derived hormones.

Body changes

During your fertile life stage, your body produces oestrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

At menopause, your body literally runs out of eggs, your ovaries decline in their production of oestrogen and stop producing progesterone altogether.

Your body responds to the absence of eggs by increasing the release of FSH.

Your adrenal glands begin to produce a different form of oestrogen called oestrone. This is why it is so important to ensure your adrenal system is well-nourished in the years running up to, and during, the menopause.

Your fat cells release natural oestrogens and this is a good reason why it is better to be a little overweight than underweight when passing through the menopause.

Of course, there can be a lot of other reasons why you may suffer with any menopausal symptoms, which may have nothing to do with the menopause. But if you visit your GP with any of these symptoms when you are a female over 45, chances are you’ll be described as ‘menopausal’. The accepted way to test for the onset of the menopause is by having a test to measure your FSH levels. Levels of FSH increase as a woman enters the menopause.

 

What is HRT?

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) is usually a combination of both oestrogen and progesterone, both of which are steroidal sex hormones. The earlier versions of HRT simply provided oestrogen and this is now only used for women after hysterectomy.

HRT is commonly manufactured from pregnant horse urine, though synthetic versions are available.

Side-effects of HRT

HRT has been associated with numerous side-effects from womb and breast cancer to heart disease and hair loss. There is evidence that women taking HRT are at more than twice the risk of developing womb cancer than women not taking HRT.

The link between HRT and breast cancer has been studied since 1976. The most recent research shows an increased risk of breast cancer for those taking HRT of 26%, though previous studies have shown an increased risk as high as 40%.

Heart disease risk is increased by up to 29% through taking HRT.

Women who face severe menopausal symptoms may choose to take HRT, but they should be aware of the risks involved and can then weigh up the pros and cons. Certainly, if you smoke, have a family history of heart disease; or if you or a close family member have breast cancer, history of thrombosis, benign breast disease, fibroids, migraine or endometriosis, you will want to discuss these issues very carefully with your GP.

Natural alternatives to HRT

However, for some women, the transition from the fertile years into post-menopause can be distressing, painful and an emotional roller coaster and this cannot be under-estimated.

Fortunately, there are a number of natural supplements that offer significant relief and can help the body into a state of balance where it will handle the transition without too many problems.

Diet & Lifestyle

The first way to improve your experience of the menopause is to get your diet and lifestyle in good shape. Stop smoking, cut down refined sugars, minimise caffeine intake, avoid fizzy drinks and consume less processed foods. Increase your intake of organic fruits and vegetables, make all your bread, rice and pasta choices wholegrain. Go vegetarian, or make meat a treat rather than a must-have item (preferably organic). Ease off on the dairy products. Exercise regularly, if only by walking each day. All of these changes will reduce the burden on your adrenal system, increase elimination of toxins through the liver and digestive system, boost bone density and help raise your mood.

Nutritional and Herbal Plan

Agnus Castus

Herbal hormone balancer, offers relief from hot flushes. The basic mechanism of action underlying Agnus Castus is its effect on enhancing corpus luteal development (thereby correcting a relative progesterone deficiency) via effects through the pituitary gland. Agnus Castus has a profound effect on the hypothalamus and on pituitary function, helping normalise other hormones and reducing both prolactin and the oestrogen-to-progesterone ratio.

Black Cohosh

Native Americans valued Black Cohosh for its benefits in many conditions ranging from gynaecological problems to rattlesnake bites. Black Cohosh is one of the main herbs recommended in Germany for menopause, PMS and secondary amenorrhoea.

As a woman approaches menopause, the signals between the ovaries and the pituitary gland diminishes, slowing down oestrogen production and increasing luteinizing hormone (LH) secretions. This hormonal shift results in many of the unpleasant symptoms such as hot flushes, depression, joint pain, nervousness etc.

Clinical studies from Germany have demonstrated that an extract of Black Cohosh decreases luteinizing hormone (LH) secretions in menopausal women.

Hot flushes seem to be the most physical evidence of these hormonal changes.

Research results indicate that Black Cohosh is a suitable natural alternative/adjunct to conventional menopause remedies, with improvements being noted in both physical and psychological symptoms.

A recent study suggests Black Cohosh may offer protection from osteoporosis. It is likely that the isoflavone content along with other phytochemical interactions assist with hormonal balance.

Dong Quai

The traditional Chinese herb, Dong Quai has helped with symptoms of the menopause for centuries in China. Dong Quai has phyto-estrogenic activity (plant-based oestrogens), circulatory, analgesic and nerve-relaxing properties. The active compounds are called ligustilides. Dong Quai acts to reduce menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, palpitations, nervous tension, joint pains and headaches.

The phyto-estrogenic activity may also aid in bone density.

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle is known for its ability to aid in detoxification, helping to speed the removal of unwanted and used up hormones and other toxins through the liver and out of the body.

Calcium, magnesium and boron

Both calcium and magnesium are essential to proper bone maintenance. The mineral boron has been shown to raise post-menopausal levels of oestrogen and also to aid in calcium retention and absorption.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E relieves hot flushes, vaginal dryness, palpitations, joint and muscle pain. Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce heart disease risk.

B-complex

The B-complex vitamins are essential for bone health and can help with stress tolerance. B vitamins exercise a supportive action to the adrenal system.

Essential Fatty Acids

Our obsession with low-fat foods has left many women depleted of the good fats – fats that the body needs for everyday hormonal and other functions. Years of low-fat dieting can leave women with dry lifeless skin and hair, fatigue, depression and breast pain – all symptoms of the menopause, but also of EFA deficiency.

Supplemental Golden Flax Seed Oil and Hemp Oil are recommended, which can also help lubricate the body generally and improve vaginal dryness.

Further Reading

The Natural Health Handbook for Women

by Dr Marilyn Glenville. Published by Piatkus Books. www.piatkus.co.uk

 

THREE PHASES OF THE MENOPAUSE

Pre-menopause periods regular, hot flushes and mood swings may begin.

Peri-menopause the ovaries reduce in function, periods become irregular and symptoms may be more severe.

Post-menopause from after your last period onwards.

 

MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

• excessive sweating
• hot flushes
• palpitations
• headaches
• joint pains
• vaginal dryness
• mood swings
• reduced sex drive
• osteoporosis
• lack of energy
• changes in hair
• weight gain

 

NOTE: Do not take herbal remedies alongside medication without the guidance of your GP.

 

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These documents are reproduced with kind permission from Viridian-Nutrition.